Fertilizer
With one survey showing 48% of Midwest corn and soybean growers are unable to afford traditional fertilizer sources, Extension and industry are responding with nutrient options that can lend support.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says a multi-agency Trump administration effort will target fertilizer costs and boost U.S. production, with a major announcement expected yet this week.
Two Midwest growers say increased competition between corn and soybeans for acres could help rebalance supplies and provide a financial boost.
As fertilizer prices climb and supplies tighten during geopolitical turmoil, Hylio’s Arthur Erickson says precision drone technology is helping farmers cut input costs while protecting yields.
A Farmer’s Keeper survey of 4,000 farmers shows 20% are cutting corn acres as record fertilizer prices and supply gaps force last-minute shifts toward soybeans and other crops to protect profitability.
In a candid conversation with Farm Journal, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden says USDA’s message to fertilizer companies is simple: “Be part of the solution, don’t be part of the problem.”
Temple Rhodes explains how moving away from front-loaded fertilizer use to what he calls a “layered, systematic approach” — using nitrogen, phosphorus and biologicals — is helping him build corn yields despite increased regulatory demands.
University of Illinois researcher details scenarios in corn and soybeans where biological products can provide value.
The leadership for New Corteva and SpinCo aims to drive growth through a specialized focus on crop protection and advanced seed genetics.
As the Iran war drives fertilizer prices up 40%, the Trump administration is warning against price gouging. A new survey shows only 60% of corn farmers have secured their nitrogen needs for 2026.
Today’s market is evolving, not just correcting, according to ag economists. To win the long game, farmers are using generics and delaying machinery purchases as trade shifts to allies and consumers demand premium meat portions.
Sixth-generation Minnesota farmer Carson Kahler is putting homemade nitrogen to the test this season, evaluating its field performance and whether the investment truly pencils out.
Two Midwest farmers say they’ve made the cuts they can, leaving fine-tuned field passes, smarter marketing and policy fixes as the next line of defense.
Indiana farmer Jason Mauck uses his wheat crop as a “supporting actor” to increase soybean yields and boost profits.
By capturing and distilling nitrogen from lagoon effluent, Wilbur-Ellis is providing organic growers with a 50/50 ammonium-nitrate tool that handles like a conventional fertilizer.
The 1,200-acre farmer says earthworms are central to his success in growing no-till corn, soybeans and winter wheat.
When the daily demands of an operation become overwhelming, long-term strategy is often the first thing to go. But what if hard times are actually the best time to grow?
Agronomist Eric Beckett shares strategies for managing tillage, product applications and budgets despite what’s shaping up to be a dry and potentially windy spring.
From Mehlich-3 to Olsen P, the extractant method your lab uses can help you interpret the data and manage inputs for more ROI.
While an unexpected March freeze is causing some farmers in Mississippi to replant corn, a mild spring is spurring early planting, with some farmers reporting they’ll finish planting corn by the end of this week.
As the five-year sunset review begins, corn growers are urging regulators to scrap phosphate duties they say have restricted supply and cost U.S. agriculture $1 billion each year.
Significant increases in energy and fertilizer costs have experts eyeing long-term impacts on corn acreage and farmer profitability.
Ken Ferrie warns that anhydrous ammonia won’t help young plants fight the carbon penalty this spring. He details how to bridge the nitrogen gap and protect your yield potential.
Before you leap, check out these essential management steps from Missouri farmer Todd Gibson and Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie to help you mitigate risks and protect ROI.
As planting dates shift earlier, the nutrient is delivering significant yield responses and surprising protection against sudden death syndrome.
While USDA predicts a shift to soybeans, spiking input costs and Middle East supply gaps have Northern growers weighing corn’s yield potential against a volatile fertilizer market.
The letter says, "“Agricultural retailers in multiple regions are already reporting delayed spring fertilizer deliveries and growing allocation pressure as product arrival dates shift and transportation capacity tightens.”
Fertilizer prices were already elevated, but they’re now surging just weeks before spring planting. What can be done to ease costs in the short term as well as fix the problem for good?
While farmers are facing higher fertilizer prices due to the Iran conflict the inability to move fertilizer through the Strait of Hormuz is also threatening spring supplies.
Prioritize timing and placement to ensure young corn plants have access to enough N to withstand any disruption from microbial immobilization.